Bowling pin having a magnetic element mounted in an axial bore therein



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. K. MENTZER HAL IN AN AXIAL BORE THEREIN Everett K. Mentzer 8- Robert H. Boucherle ATTORDEYS Fig.2

BOILING PIN HAVING A MAGNETIC ELEMENT MOUNTED m w i 2 8 m m w w 1 1..- .14 .n w wwn Q4. @1. M fl. Z 8 IT 0. II 1Q? m Ma Q 1 lllll 4 w u Feb. 18, 1964 Filed April 11, 1962 Feb. 18, 1964 E. K. MENTZER ETAL 3,121,565

BOILING PIN HAVING A MAGNETIC ELEMENT MOUNTED IN AN AXIAL BORE THEREIN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 11, 1962 Fig.4

a an 5 WWW mum m mun w E m United States Patent 3,121,565 BOWLING PIN HAVING A MAGNETIC ELEMENT MOUNTED IN AN AXIAL BORE THEREIN Everett K. Mentzer, Struthers, and Rehert H. Boucherle,

Avon Lake, Ohio, assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to The Cleveland Trust Co., trustee, Cleveland, Ohi'o Filed Apr. 11, 1962, Ser. No. 186,727 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-82) This invention relates to a bowling pin assembly adapted to be detected in a standing position, such assembly being usable in apparatus adapted to produce electrical signals which may be used to automatically score, totalize, visually indicate, and/ or print the totalizcd score in a bowling game.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of our copendin-g application Serial No. 134,809, filed September 7, 1961, which latter application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 60 ,350, filed October 4, 1960, now abandoned, the major portion of the subject matter of this application, with the exception of FIG. and the accompanying description, being divided out of the aforesaid application Serial No. 134,809.

Although not limited thereto, the present invention is particularly adapted for use with an automatic scoring and totalizing system for a bowling game such as that shown in our copending application Serial No. 38,091, filed July 7, 1960, our copending application Serial No. 175,865, filed February 9, 1962, or Millman et a1. Patent 2,590,444, issued March 25, 1952. In such systems it is first necessary, in order to score or totalize the game to obtain an accurate indication of the pinfall after each ball in the game is rolled. Various systems have heretofore been proposed for automatically detecting pinfall; however, all are subject to malfunctioning or are unreliable for one reason or another. For example, one such system heretofore proposed calls for limit switches on the gripper arms or clamps of an automatic pin-spotting machine, the idea being that if a pin is knocked down after a ball is rolled, the gripper arm for that pin will completely close when the pin-spotter recycles, thereby closing or opening a number of limit switches corresponding to the number of fallen pins. The difiiculty with this method, however, is that certain ones of the pins may slide on the alley from their correctly spotted positions and still remain standing with the result that the pin-spotter may fail to grip a standing pin; or, if two pins abut each other, the pin-spotter may pick up one pin while knocking down the second. For the foregoing reasons, the use of switches on the pin-spotter is unsatisfactory for an accurate and fail-proof method for detecting pinfall.

Another system heretofore proposed for detecting pinfall employs photocells positioned beneath the pins in their correctly spotted positions whereby the photocells will be exposed to light and conduct to produce an elec trical signal whenever a pin is knocked down. This sys tem, however, is unreliable for the same reason that limit switches on the pin-spotter are unreliable. That is, if the pins slide on the alley without being knocked down, the photocells will be exposed to light and conduct to produce a false indication of pinfall.

As an overall object, the present invention provides a bowling pin assembly which can be electrically detected in a standing position and which overcomes the above and other disadvantages of prior-art systems.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a bowling pin assembly which incorporates a permanent magnet at its top or bottom such that the pin may be detected in a standing position by sweeping an electromagnetic coil across either the top or bottom of the pin,

3,121,565 Patented Feb. 18, 1964 "ice depending upon which end of the pin the magnet is carried.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided in the top or bottom of each pin which can be detected electrically by a proximity device movable above the tops or below the bottoms of standing pins and adapted to produce an impulse by passing near the top or near the bottom of any standing pin. In the embodiment of the invention shown herein, the means in the top or bottom of each pin comprises a permanent magnet, and the proximity device comprises and electrical coil assembly, the arrangement being such that the coil assembly will cut through the lines of flux produced by the permanent magnets whereby a current impulse is induced in the coil assembly each time it passes over or under a standing pin. The permanent magnets of fallen pins, however, cannot affect the coil and, hence, will not produce current impulses. By using the current impulses in circuitry including stepping switches and relays, a number of electrical signals can be obtained equal to ten minus the number of current impulses produced by the coil assembly, these signals being equal in number to the number of fallen pins. Circuitry of the type described above is fully shown and described in our aforesaid copending application Serial No. 134,809 of which the present application is a divisional continuation-impart.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of a bowling alley incorporating the novel bowling pin assembly of the present invention in combination with electrical coils which move across the tops of the pins for detecting those pins which are standing;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially broken-away top view of an arrangement according to the invention 'wherein electrically detectable means are positioned at the bottom of each pin and wherein the coils for detecting pinfall move beneath the bottoms of the bowling pin assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 is a broken-away cross-sectional view of the bowling pin assembly of the present invention.

Referring, now, to FIG. 1, the usual bowling alley is shown having a pin deck 12 with ten pins positioned thereon in the usual triangular configuration and numbered one through ten. On either side of the pin deck 12 are two gutters 14 and 16', while behind the pin deck 12 is a pit 18.

On either side of the pin deck 12 are a pair of horizontally-extending supporting members 20 and 22 which carry a pair of transversely-extending guideways or tracks 24 and 26. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the tracks 24 and 26 are positioned above the tops of the pins and comprise a pair of inverted angles which carry a pair of blocks 28 and 30 for sliding movement therealong. As shown, each block 28 or 30 is provided with generally L-shaped arms 32 which ride on the upper surfaces of the inverted angles 24 and 26. Extending transversely between the supporting members 21) and 22 and beneath the inverted angles 24 and 26 are a pair of driving screws 34 and 36 ;which threadedly engage the blocks 28 and 30, the arrangement being such that as the screws 34 and 36 turn, the blocks 28 and 30 will be moved upwardly or downwardly as shown in FIG. 1, depending upon the direction of rotation of the screws. One end of each of the screws '34 and 36 is provided with a gear 38 or 40, respectively,

which meshes with a worm 42 or 44 on a common shaft 46. Shaft 46, in turn, is driven by an electric motor 48 whereby, as the motor turns, the screws 34 and 36 will be turned in synchronism. Extending between the blocks 28 and 30' is a bar of soft iron or other similar material having three elongated electrical windings S2, 54 and 56 wound thereon. As best shown in FIG. 2, the coils 52- 56 are wound around notches 58 cut out of the iron bar 50 whereby portions of the iron bar between the ends of the coils will serve as magnetic cores of high permeability. From a consideration of FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that as the motor 48 turns, the bar 50 and the coils 52-56 carried thereby will be moved transversely across the deck 12 and above the pins 1-H Furthermore, the coil 52 will sweep across an area designated as Zone 1 and will pass over the tops of pins 7-10; coils 54 will sweep over an area designated Zone 2 and will pass over the tops of pins 4-6; while coil 56 will sweep over an area designated Zone 3 and will pass over the tops of pins 1, 2 and 3. Embedded in the top of each of the pins 1-10 in accordance with the present invention is a small permanent magnet 60 having north and south poles spaced along a vertical axis and adapted to produce a magnetic field through which one of the coils5Z-56 will cut in passing from one side of the alley to the other. Thus, assuming that the speed of bar 50 is above a predetermined value as it sweeps across the alley, a momentary electrical current will. be induced in each of the coils 5256 as it passes over the top of a standing pin. These electrical current impulses are used in circuitry, described in detail in our copending application Serial No. 134,809, to produce a number ofelectrical pulses or signals corresponding to the number. of pins knocked down after each ball in a bowling game is delivered.

As will be understood, it is necessary to produce a single and separate current impulse in one of the coils 52-55 for each standing pin on the deck 12. The necessity for three coils and three zones thus becomes apparent. That is, it can be seen from FIG. 1 that the number 1 pin is directly in front of the number 5 pin. Simila ly, the numher 2' pin is directly in front of the number 8 pin, and the number 3 pin is directly in front of the number 9 pin. If a single coil were swept across the tops of the pins, a single current impulse would be induced in the coil for both of thepins 2 and 8, both of the pins 1 and 5, and both of the pins 3 and 9, meaning that if all pins were standing, only seven current impulses would be produced by the single coil; whereas it is desired to produce ten impulses. With the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, however, none of the pins in any zone are aligned with other pins in that same zone so that the cumulative number of impulses produced by the three coils will always be ten, assuming that all of the pins are left standing. Of course, if certain ones of the pins are knocked down after a ball is rolled, only the cumulative number of impulses corresponding to the number of pins left standing will be produced by the coils. Furthermore, even though certain one of the pins may slide on the deck to positions where they are directly in front of other pins, the correct number of impulses will always be produced. To illustrate, suppose that the ball strikes the number 1 pin. Under these circumstances, the number 1 pin will always be knocked down under the impact of the ball. Certain ones of the pins, however, may slide when the ball rolls into the triangular configuration of pins shown in FIG. 1. Let us assume, for example, that the number 4 pin slides to the position shown by the dotted lines where it is directly in front of the number 7 pin. Under these circumstances, two electrical current impulses will still be produced for the number 4 and 7 pins, with the impulse for the number 4 pin being produced by coil 54 while the impulse for pin number 7 is produced by coil 52. Since all of the pins will slide either to the side or toward the pit 13, there is a possibility of a single current impulse for two pins in Zone 3 where pin number 1 could conceivably be aligned with pin number 2 or pin number 3. However, as was explained above, pin number 1 will be struck directly by the moving ball, meaning that it will not slide in Zone 3 in an upright position where a single current impulse can be produced for two standing pins. Thus, the apparatus shown provides a means whereby a single current impulse will be produced by one of the coils 52, 54 or 56 for each standing pin even though cer-- tain ones of the pins may slide from their correctly spotted positions. These current impulses, the number of which corresponds to the number of standing pins, may then be electrically converted into a number of pulses corresponding to the number of pins knocked down in circuitry such as that shown in our aforesaid copending application Serial No. 134,809.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, an alternate arrangement of the invention is shown wherein the permanent magnet means are embedded in the bottoms of the pins while the detecting coils pass under the pins beneath the pin deck. As was the case in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, ten pins, numbered 1 through 18, are positioned on a pin deck 25d. On either side of the pin deck 25% are two gutters 252' and 254, while behind the pin deck 256 is a pit 256. The major length of the bowling alley ahead" of the pin deck 25% comprises the usual tongue and groove flooring 253, while the pin deck itself comprises a thin' board of laminated wooden sheets which has exceptionally high bending strength. As shown in'FIG. 4, the pin deck 25% rests on the upper edges of an open-ended rectangular housing 260 which has a width substantially equal to that of the bowling alley proper between the gutters 252 and 254. Carried within the housing 260 are a pair of parallel shafts 262 and 264 which carry'pulleys 256 at their opposite ends. Movable around the pulleys 266 are a pair of rubber or the like belts 268 and 270, and between these belts is carried a bar 271 which supports four aligned coils 272, 274, 276 and 27 8. The shaft 262 may, for example, be selectively driven by means of an electric motor 280 connected to the shaft through a drive belt 282. Alternatively, the motor may be connected to the shaft 262 through gearing if desired. In this manner, it will be understood that by energizing the motor 280 in one direction, bar 271 and the coils carried thereby may be traversed across the alley in one direction; while energization of the motor in the opposite direction will cause the bar and the coils to be traversed in the opposite direction. The coil 272 extends from a point slightly in front of the first row of pins in the triangular configuration (i'.e., pins 7-10) to the end of the bowling deck; the coil 274 extends from a point slightly in front of the pins in the second row (i.e., pins 46) to a point slightly in front of the first row of pins; the coil 276 extends from apoint slightly in front of pins 2 and 3 to a point slightly in front of pins 4, 5 and 6; and the cell 278 extends from a point slightly in front of the number 1 pin toa point slightly in front of the number 2 and 3 pins. It will be remembered that with reference to FIG. 1, the number 1, 2 and 3 pins were covered by a single coil, namely coil 56. It was also explained that the only possibility of a single current impulse for two pins in the arrangement of FIG. 1 is where pin number 1 could conceivably be aligned with pin number 2 or pin number 3. In the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4, however, this possibility is entirely eliminated since, even if pin number 1 should slide into direct alignment with pin number 2 or pin number 3, it will still be detected by coil 278" while the other pins, numbered 2 and 3, will be detected by coil 276. Thus, whereas the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 is divided into three zones, the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 is divided into four zones, Zone 1 coveringthe number 7 to 10 pins, Zone 2 covering the number 4 to 6 pins, Zone 3 covering the number 2 and 3 pins, and Zone 4 coveringthe single pin numbered 1.

Embedded in the bottoms of the pins in FIGS. 3 and 4 are permanent magnets 279, similar to magnets 60 of FIGS. 1 and 2. Since the pin deck 250 is formed from wood or some other non-magnetically permeable material,

the lines of flux from magnets 279 will easily pass through the deck and will be cut by the coils 272-278 when they are moved transversely of the bowling alley upon energization of motor 280. In this manner, a pulse will be produced in one of the coils 272278 for each standing pin as the bar 271 sweeps across the alley, the total number of pulses produced by the combined coils being equal to the number of standing pins.

With reference to FIG. 4, it will be noted that the edges of the pin deck 250 are tapered as at 284 and 286. Due to space requirements, the pulleys 266 can be positioned only so close to the ends of the pin deck, meaning that as the bar 271 reaches either end of the pin deck, it will begin to travel around the pulleys and out of'the range of the magnetic field produced by the permanent magnets in the bottoms of the pins at the edge of the deck. By providing the tapered edges 2&4 and 286, whenever any one of the pins slides far enough so that its magnetic field will not be cut by the coils on bar 271, it will be in the area of the taper 284 or 286 and will topple over into the gutter 252 or 254. In all cases, however, the distance between the top edges of the tapers 284 and 286 must be equal to or greater than the minimum permissible width of the bowling alley deck. An additional taper 288 is provided at the end of the pin deck for a similar purpose.

The output pulses from the coils 272-278 may then be used in circuitry such as that shown in our copending application Serial No. 134,809, to convert them into a number of pulses corresponding to the number of pins knocked down by a bowling ball.

In FIG. 5', a cross section of the bottom of a bowling pin 300 is shown, illustrating the manner in which a permanent magnet may be carried therein. Provided in the base of the pin is a bore 302 having a counterbored or enlarged diameter portion 304. The magnet 306 is cylindrical in shape and carried within a plastic insert 308 which is press-fitted into the bore 302, the semi-resiliency of the plastic providing good holding contact with the bore 302. As shown, the insert has a cylindrical portion 310 which surrounds the major portion of the magnet and a flange 312 which fits into the counterbored portion 304 and provides a good holding arrangement for the assembly within the pin. A plastic ring 314 is provided around the edge of the bottom, substantially as shown. Since the rules of the American Bowling Congress specify that the weight of the pin be not less than two pounds, fourteen ounces nor more than three pounds, ten ounces, the slight additional weight of the magnet is well within the specified tolerances. The poles of the magnet are at its top and bottom to provide lines of flux which will be readily cut by the coils hereinbefore described.

A similar arrangement can be used at the top of the pin, if desired, and although the plastic insert arrangement shown herein is preferable, it is to be understood that the magnet, without a casing, could be forced into a bore at the top or bottom of the pin.

Although the invention has been shown in connection with certain specific embodiments, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and arrangement of parts may be made to suit requirements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In combination, a bowling pin having a bore in one of its ends with the axis of the bore being aligned with the axis of the pin, an enlarged diameter counterbored portion at the forward end of said bore, and an assembly inserted into said bore, the assembly comprising a generally cylindrical metal element carried within a bore provided in a cylindrical semi-resilient insert which is press-fitted into said bore in the pin, the insert having a major cylindrical portion which fits into the major portion of said bore in the pin and an integral annular flanged portion which fits into said counterbored portion, the insertion of the annular flanged portion into said counterbored portion serving to limit the extent to which the assembly may be press-fitted into said bore, the diameters of said major and flanged portions being such that they will be securely held within the bore in the pin by pressfitting of the semi-resilient insert without any auxiliary fastening devices.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the metal element 'is held within said insert by frictional resistance without the need for any auxiliary fastening elements.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the metal element comprises a permanent magnet having its opposite poles at the ends of the metal element along the aXis of the pin.

. References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,896,383 White Feb. 7, 1933 2,194,146 Kaiserman Mar. 19, 1940 3,019,020 Cohn Jan. 30, 1962 3,073,597 Ernst Ian. 15, 1963 

1. IN COMBINATION, A BOWLING PIN HAVING A BORE IN ONE OF ITS ENDS WITH THE AXIS OF THE BORE BEING ALIGNED WITH THE AXIS OF THE PIN, AN ENLARGED DIAMETER COUNTERBORED PORTION AT THE FORWARD END OF SAID BORE, AND AN ASSEMBLY INSERTED INTO SAID BORE, THE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL METAL ELEMENT CARRIED WITHIN A BORE PROVIDED IN A CYLINDRICAL SEMI-RESILIENT INSERT WHICH IS PRESS-FITTED INTO SAID BORE IN THE PIN, THE INSERT HAVING A MAJOR CYLINDRICAL PORTION WHICH FITS INTO THE MAJOR PORTION OF SAID BORE IN THE PIN AND AN INTEGRAL ANNULAR FLANGED PORTION WHICH FITS INTO SAID COUNTERBORED PORTION, THE INSERTION OF THE ANNULAR FLANGED PORTION INTO SAID COUNTERBORED PORTION SERVING TO LIMIT THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE ASSEMBLY MAY BE PRESS-FITTED INTO SAID BORE, THE DIAMETERS OF SAID MAJOR AND FLANGED PORTIONS BEING SUCH THAT THEY WILL BE SECURELY HELD WITHIN THE BORE IN THE PIN BY PRESSFITTING OF THE SEMI-RESILIENT INSERT WITHOUT ANY AUXILIARY FASTENING DEVICES. 